Adrienne’s month of rehab flew by. I had been training her daily. Her arm had healed well in the month, and she progressed very quickly in her training. In fact, she had a natural talent for it. She almost beat me once. By now I was sure that Adrienne could defend herself in any situation. This was good because…I was leaving the next day. Whitmore had approached me in the hallway early that morning.
“Helga, I have to tell you something.”
“Sir?”
“We’re leaving on the Atlantis expedition tomorrow.”
“What?”
“Just what I said. I need you to go to Milo Thatch’s apartment tonight and inform him.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get right on that.” I had changed into a black dress for that evening. Who knew what this Milo guy was like? Adrienne had told me a bit about him and from what I could figure, he was a complete nerd. “I can’t believe that I’m really going to Atlantis. Helga, this is insane. Risking your life for a myth? Crazy!”
“What?” asked a voice from behind me.
That did it. I was in for it this time. The voice belonged to none other than Adrienne. I faced her slowly. “You’re going…to Atlantis?” she whispered. There was a look of hurt on her face.
“I…yes. I am going on an expedition to Atlantis and I leave tomorrow.” There was no need to lie anymore. She would’ve found out the truth sooner or later.
“I can’t believe this. You didn’t tell me? Helga, I thought that we were friends!”
“We are, Adrienne. But I couldn’t tell you this because…” I lowered my voice. “Because your grandfather didn’t want you to know. He wanted to keep you safe. So he didn’t tell you of the mission. It’s perfectly understandable.”
“No. Helga, you’ve been lying to me. For the past month you’ve told me not to pursue Atlantis because it’s just a story. Now I find out that you’re going! You’re devious…how could I ever expect you, a soldier, to be truthful? I was wrong about you, Ms. Sinclair!”
Ms. Sinclair? I was angry now. I grabbed Adrienne’s wrist. “You listen to me and you listen to me well. I only acted on the behalf of your grandfather. Do you think that I wanted to keep this from you?”
“Well, you did.” “I had to!”
I was getting frustrated. Why did she have to be so headstrong? Why did she have to be like me? Suddenly she threw herself at me. “Don’t go! Please don’t leave!”
“I thought you were angry.”
“I am. But losing you, my best friend, is far worse than my anger. I want to go with you. If we die on the mission at least we’d go together!”
“You can’t go,” I told her firmly. “I will not allow it. This is my mission.”
“Please!” I looked at her. Grief was written on her face. “I’ve lost so much. I don’t want to lose your friendship too!”
“I am bound by a contract to go,” I replied. That wasn’t a lie. Unfortunately, I had promised Rourke. I pushed Adrienne away. “If you’d excuse me, I have an errand to run.” I walked swiftly down the hall without looking back. I couldn’t see the expression on Adrienne’s face, but I felt it…she was hurt and it was my fault.

I returned to the mansion with Mr. Thatch a few hours later. He was a pathetic site. I had to instruct him on a few things so that he wouldn’t make a fool of himself in front of Whitmore. Later that evening, Whitmore called for me. I met with him briefly.
“Adrienne found out about Atlantis,” he said.
“I know. I’m sorry. I was talking to myself and it slipped. I didn’t know that she was there.”
“It’s all right Helga,” he sighed. “But I cannot let her go.”
“I know. What are we going to do sir?”
“I’ve taken care of it.”
“How?”
“Adrienne and I had tea while you were gone. Devious as it was, I put a sleeping drug into her cup. It should keep her out for a while. At least long enough for us to leave port.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I had to do it, you know. It was the only way. That’s all. See you bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“Good-night sir.” I walked upstairs to my room. As I passed Adrienne’s room I couldn’t help but think. Was the path of deviousness really the only way?